How to Write Dialogue That Sounds Real

Bad dialogue pulls readers out of the story faster than anything else. Good dialogue is invisible—it feels like eavesdropping on real life.

1. Dialogue is Not Real Speech

Real speech is full of "um," "uh," boring pleasantries, and dead ends. Dialogue is curated speech. It should sound real, but be more efficient. Cut the "Hello, how are you?" and get straight to the conflict.

2. Give Everyone a Distinct Voice

Your reader should know who is speaking without looking at the dialogue tags. Does one character use long words? Does another use slang? Does one interrupt constantly?

3. Use Subtext

People rarely say exactly what they mean. If a character is angry, they might not say "I'm angry." They might say "Fine, do whatever you want." The gap between what is said and what is meant is where the drama lives.

4. Action Beats > Dialogue Tags

Instead of: "I don't believe you," she said angrily.

Try: She crossed her arms and looked away. "I don't believe you."

This shows the emotion and keeps the scene moving visually.

5. Said is Dead? No.

Don't overdo creative tags like "exclaimed," "ejaculated," or "queried." "Said" is invisible to the reader. Use it most of the time.

6. Avoid "As You Know, Bob"

Don't use dialogue to dump exposition. "As you know, Bob, we've been brothers for 20 years." Real people don't talk like that. Trust the reader to figure it out.

7. Read It Out Loud

This is the ultimate test. If you stumble over the words while reading aloud, your reader will stumble in their head. Rewrite it until it rolls off the tongue.

8. Use Silence

Sometimes the most powerful response is no response. Use pauses and silence to create tension.